A17726:245
A short instruction for to arm all good Christian people against the pestiferous errors…A short instruction for to arme all good Christian people agaynst the pestiferous errours…
A short instruction for to arm all good Christian people against the pestiferous errors of the common sect of Anabaptists. Compiled by master John CalvinA short instruction for to arme all good Christian people agaynst the pestiferous errours of the common secte of Anabaptistes. Compiled by mayster Iohn Caluine
London: printed by John Daye, 1549London: printed by Ihon Daye, 1549
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
For when it pleaseth God to call us into the participation of his grace: he saith that he maketh us new creatures. How is that? In that by the virtue of his word and of his spirit, he mortifieth the corruption of our nature, making us to be borne again to live in his kingdom. Let us now heart what is the operation of the one and the other in us. Saint Paul going about to ⟨image 66⟩comfort us sayeth, that though the body he dead because of sin, yet the spirit of the Lord Jesus dwelling in us is life, because of righteousness, I know that this life is never perfect, whilst we are in this world, but seeing that the spirit of God, is a spark of life, which is given unto us to quicken us more and more till we come unto perfection: it followeth that our life can never be quenched.
For when it pleaseth God to call vs into the participation of hys grace: he sayth that he maketh vs newe creatures. How is that? In that by the vertue of hys worde and of hys spirite, he mortifyeth the corruption of oure nature, makynge vs to be borne agayne to liue in hys kyngdome. Let vs nowe heart what is the operation of the one and the other in vs. Saynt Paule goynge aboute to ⟨image 66⟩conforte vs sayeth, that though the bodye he deade bycause of synne, yet the spirite of the Lorde Iesus dwellinge in vs is lyfe, bicause of reghtuousnes, I knowe that thys lyfe is neuer perfitte, whylse we are in thys world, but seyng that the spirit of God, is a sparke of lyfe, whyche is geuen vnto vs to quicken vs more and more tyll we come vnto perfection: it foloweth that oure lyfe can neuer be quenched.
☞ As touching the word, Saint Peter speaketh yet more clearly, saying that it is a seed of immortality, yea an incorruptible seed, which God hath put into us, to exempt us from that condition wherein we be by nature, which is as Isaiah sayeth, that all flesh is hay, and all the glory of man is as the flour of the grass, because that when the spirit of God doth blow on man, he is by and by withered and dried, and falleth wholly down.